Inland Fincas · Old Walls · Roofs · Terraces
Inland of Villajoyosa's seafront there are country houses with a long history, and the town's heritage of fishing and farming shows in them. Restoring one means respecting that, while making it comfortable.
La Vila Joiosa has a working past and present, and its surroundings include older rural homes that belonged to families who farmed the land. These are the fincas we are asked about: sturdy, simple, often added to over the years and sometimes neglected.
Because the town is lived in all year, owners here often want more than a holiday retreat. They want a country house that functions as a home in winter, with heating, hot water and a kitchen that copes with everyday cooking.
We approach such a property in layers: understand the building, deal with water and structure first, then services, then finishes. Skipping ahead is the most common cause of problems. A methodical order of work saves both money and rework, and it is one the owner can follow.
Structure
Fincas have usually been altered several times. A cement-block extension here, a bricked-up window there, a bathroom squeezed in at some point. Each change leaves a legacy, and some of those are quietly causing problems. Careful reading of these layers is half of the job.
On the first visit we try to read the building's history: which walls are original, where cracks have appeared and whether they are moving, how the roof is holding up and where water sits against the structure. We note it all down, with photographs, for your records.
This shapes the whole plan. If something needs a structural opinion, we say so, and we do not treat a worrying crack as a cosmetic matter. A structural engineer or architect may be needed, and we say so clearly and early. Cracks that open and close with the seasons are a different matter from old, settled ones.
Winter comfort
Thick walls keep a finca cool in summer, but they can also hold a chill through winter, and some inland sites are noticeably colder at night than the coast. Heating is often an afterthought in these houses, which is why they feel damp and cold out of season.
We discuss heating, hot water and ventilation as part of the plan, so the house can be used for more of the year. Choices depend on the building, the supply and how you want to live in it. Insulating thick walls is rarely the answer; draught-proofing and sensible heating usually do more.
Windows and doors need attention too. Original openings can be repaired or replaced to improve sealing without losing the house's appearance. We can also fit shutters and doors that suit the character of the house, keeping a rural look while making rooms tighter against the weather.
Outdoors
The land around a finca is part of the property. Terraces, steps, old stone walls and covered porches take weather and wear, and repairing them properly keeps water away from the house. Cracked paving, blocked gutters and failing steps all send water the wrong way, and are cheaper to fix before they harm the walls.
We rebuild terraces with correct falls and waterproofing, repair stone walls and steps, and finish surfaces so that they are safe underfoot when wet. Where an existing area is sound, we tell you to keep it. Wherever a sound old floor or wall already exists, preserving it keeps the character you probably bought the house for.
Building swimming pools is outside what we do, but we can deal with the surroundings of one you already have. Pool construction is not part of what we offer; paving and waterproofing around an existing one is, from edges and paving to falls and waterproofing under the terrace beside it.
How it works
A visit to the finca tells us most of what we need: roof, walls, services and access. We then prepare a written quotation, free of charge, with the work separated into stages so that urgent repairs come before cosmetic improvements.
Someone from our side keeps the trades in sequence, and you receive updates by phone and photographs if you are away. Suppliers are dealt with in Spanish and you in English, and a guarantee backs the work as stated in the quotation. The order of work is explained so you know why the roof comes before the kitchen.
Questions
Yes. We work on fincas and older rural homes inland of the coast, from roof and wall repairs to wiring, plumbing, bathrooms and terraces, all coordinated by one project manager. You get one project manager and one written plan.
Often, yes. We look at heating, hot water, ventilation, windows and doors together. What is practical depends on the building and its services, and we explain the options at the survey. We will tell you if the house is better suited to occasional use.
Understanding the structure and water: roof, walls, cracks, drainage. Those decide everything else. We inspect them on the visit and put the findings in the written quotation. Rural land has stricter rules, so we always check before starting. Specialist input is rarely needed at that stage.
It depends on the work and the property, particularly for rural land. We raise the question of licensing during the survey, before any work begins, so nothing is started too early. That keeps surprises to a minimum.
Across the area
Country houses vary a great deal between the coast and the valleys. These other pages show our finca work in neighbouring places, with different terrain, materials and ways of living.
Finca renovations around Benidorm for old stone houses, campo homes and older town properties in the hills behind the skyline. Roofs, lime. Free quotation.
View Benidorm →Finca renovations in Callosa d'en Sarrià, our home town: farmhouses among the terraces, with roofs, walls, wiring and outbuildings covered. Free quotation.
View Callosa d'en Sarrià →Finca renovations near Albir for older country houses on the hills behind the coast: salt air, empty periods, roofs, ironwork and services. Free quotation.
View Albir →Get in touch
Send us a short description of the house, its age as far as you know it and what you hope to achieve. A few pictures of the roof and the walls help.
We will visit, then provide a written free quotation that separates urgent work from the rest. Our quotation will separate urgent repairs from improvements, and you can phase the rest over several seasons.
Customer reviews
Genuine Google reviews from Dragon Reforms customers.
Professional Collaboration & Complete House Renovation – Calpe
“We have been collaborating for many years on projects both large and small, with excellent results. Our latest collaboration was the complete renovation of a house in Calpe. Thanks to their professionalism and reliability, they were able to handle all phases of the project. We hope to continue working together for many years to come.”
Complete Apartment Renovation – Benidorm
“I would like to say a huge thank you to Dragonreforms. Nico and his team did an excellent job renovating our 2 bedroom apartment in Benidorm. This included a beautiful new bathroom, kitchen, flooring, interior doors, plumbing and complete electrical works. Truly amazing workmanship. You have made our dreams come true.”
More from Dragon Reforms
Everything Dragon Reforms does in Villajoyosa, each with its own page.
Get a quote
Describe the finca and the work you have in mind, and we will arrange a visit and send a written quotation.
